High-throughput imaging and selection of viable clones in line with single cell sorting improves viability of clones for downstream analysis

An FDA requirement for biologics production is to provide evidence that the host cell line being employed is derived from a single, parental cell (i.e. monoclonal). Conventional techniques for isolating single cells such as limiting dilution and flow cytometry-based methods are significantly limited by process inefficiencies, including low plating densities and low viabilities. These inefficiencies, in turn, reduce the capability to screen for high-producing clones, thereby increasing timelines and costs at early stages of antibody discovery and cell line development processes. Microfluidics-based methods hold promise for improving upon such inefficiencies due to their ability to sort single cells in a low stress environment. Here we present the optimization of a microfluidics-based method—the single cell printing method—for imaging and screening of clones prior to single cell sorting, which significantly improved cell viability compared to other cell sorting techniques.

Steven Wiltgen

Product ManagerMolecular Devices

My PhD and post-doc focused on the development of a novel super-resolution imaging technique based on TIRF imaging of calcium permeable ion channels. I then served as an Adjunct Professor at several community colleges in the Southern California region before beginning my career at Molecular Devices 4 years ago. I first served as a Field Application Scientist for our high-content imaging products, then switched gears to marketing where I served as an application scientist for our bioproduction development line of products. I now serve as the product manager for these same instruments and have been in this role for 1 year.